Remote manual drive system for modular rear-mounted window assembly

ABSTRACT

A rear-mounted modular sliding window assembly in a motor vehicle has a glazing pane, typically a slider subassembly incorporating a vertically mounted transparent pane, which is slidably mounted in a circumferential frame. The slider pane is mounted for sliding laterally back and forth between an open position and a closed position. A drive subassembly comprises a hand-operable drive unit for moving the sliding pane back and forth between the open and closed positions, having a drive drum and a handle secured to the drive drum and mounted remotely in the vehicle passenger compartment. The drive subassembly further comprises a mechanism for operatively connecting the handle to the sliding pane, for example, a drive cable mounted in the roof above a roof liner.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention is directed to a motor vehicle window assemblyand, more particularly, to a modular window assembly in which a slidingpane is vertically mounted in a frame for sliding laterally back andforth between an open and closed position, operated by a remote, manualdrive apparatus. This application is a continuation in part applicationof U.S. application Ser. No. 08/624,130 filed Mar. 29, 1996.

BACKGROUND

Modular window assemblies for motor vehicles, having one or morelaterally sliding panes, that is, panes which slide substantiallyhorizontally in the vertical plane of the pane are used, for example, asrear slider windows for pickup truck cabs, and rear side windows. Suchmodular window assemblies typically have a circumferential (that is,outer peripheral) frame in which are mounted the sliding pane along withone or more fixed-position panes. The frame may be structural orsemi-structural in that it integrates the sliding pane and one or morefixed-position panes as a self-contained preassembled module suitablefor shipping and handling during installation into the motor vehicle.

A window assembly for a vehicle having a sliding pane is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 4,850,139 to Tiesler. In the Tiesler design the sliding windowis manually operated. The driver, or other person opening the slidingwindow must be able to reach the sliding window in order to open andclose it. When operating the sliding window while driving, drivers mayfind themselves in an awkward position. In a pick-up truck with anextended cab, that is, one with a backseat or an area extending behindthe driver, the driver may have to stop the vehicle and get into therear cab area, in order to reach the sliding window to open or close it.

Window assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,698 to Friese et al.The Friese et al. window assemblies are replacements for the OEM(original equipment manufacturer) rear slider window assembly originallyincluded in a vehicle. The Friese et al. window assembly includes rightside and left side fixed panes and a sliding center pane powered by anelectric motor. Electric drive arrangements for such rear slidingwindows may in certain applications present reliability concerns andincreased manufacture, installation and repair costs. It would be highlydesirable for meeting increasingly stringent OEM requirements of themajor motor vehicle manufacturers to have a reliable, less complex drivesystem for a rear sliding window assembly, especially a sliding windowassembly wherein the sliding pane in its closed position can be flushwith adjacent fixed panes.

It would be advantageous to have a remote manual drive system foroperating the window within arms reach of the driver which would allowthem to operate the window while driving the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide rear-mounted modularwindow assemblies having remotely operated laterally slidable panes.Additional objects and optional features of the invention will beapparent from the following disclosure and detailed discussion ofpreferred embodiments.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect a rear-mounted modular window assemblyin a motor vehicle has a glazing pane, typically a slider subassemblyincorporating a vertically mounted transparent pane, which is slidablymounted in a circumferential frame. The slider pane is mounted forsliding laterally back and forth between an open position and a closedposition. A drive subassembly comprises a hand-operable drive unit formoving the sliding pane back and forth between the open and closedpositions, having a handle mounted overhead in the vehicle passengercompartment. The modular window assembly is "rear-mounted", in that thelaterally sliding pane is wholly or at least substantially behind thedriver's seat. The drive unit handle for operating the sliding pane ismounted remotely, that is, the handle is not directly secured to,supported by, or mounted to the modular window assembly, but is operablyconnected to the modular window assembly and sliding pane by drivemeans, for example a drive cable mounted in the roof above a roof liner.The handle is preferably mounted overhead, such as centered in theceiling, or roof, of the passenger compartment. The handle can mostadvantageously be mounted forward of the so-called B-pillars, i.e., thevertically extending structural elements of the vehicle body typicallyjust behind the driver and front passenger seats. Most preferably thehandle is mounted to the roof proximate the upper horizontal perimeterof the windshield or other such overhead location within easy arm'sreach of the driver's seat.

In accordance with certain preferred embodiments a pull-pull cable drivesubassembly is provided for operatively connecting the sliding pane tothe remotely mounted handle for moving the slider subassembly laterallyback and forth between its open and closed positions. The pull-pullcable drive subassembly includes a drive drum driven by the handle. Thedrive drum and handle are mounted to the vehicle roof at a locationremote from the circumferential frame. Drive cable wrapped around thedrive drum is routed to the slider subassembly. A first drive cablesegment extends laterally from the slider subassembly toward one side ofthe frame and a second drive cable segment extends laterally from theslider subassembly toward the opposite side of the frame. Both cablesegments extend underneath the roof, between the roof liner and theroof. The roof liner is typically preformed to fit the shape of the roofand may also be formed to accommodate the cable segments and anyassociated guide means. Operation of the remote handle to rotate thedrive drum in a first direction pulls the slider pane via the firstcable segment toward its open position, while rotation of the drive drumin the opposite rotational direction pulls the slider pane via thesecond cable segment toward its closed position. Thus, the slider paneis moved by a cable pull operation in both directions, the slidersubassembly and drive cable together forming a closed loop from thedrive drum.

Substantial advantage is achieved by providing a remote handle tooperate a rear-mounted slider pane. In particular, significant drivercomfort and ease of use is achieved in selecting the remote mountinglocation for the handle. This is highly advantageous in pickup trucks,vans, etc. in which a driver must reach behind the driver's seat tooperate such a window, and especially in extended cab pickups where adriver would need to stop the vehicle and enter the rear of the cabarea, in order to operate the window.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, that is, to those who are knowledgeable orexperienced in this area of technology, that the present inventionprovides a significant technological advance. The window assemblydisclosed here is well-suited to applications involving original motorvehicle installations and to applications involving retrofitting of arear slider window construction installed originally as a manual-slidetype window. These and additional features and advantages of theinvention disclosed here will be further understood from the followingdetailed disclosure of certain preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain preferred embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exterior schematic perspective view of a multi-pane modularsliding window assembly vertically mounted as a rear slider window in apickup truck cab or the like, incorporating a center slider pane mountedwithin a frame between right and left side fixed-position panes, and apull-pull drive cable arrangement in which a cable drive subassemblyincludes a handle remotely mounted to the roof of the motor vehicle bodynear the windshield, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken through line 2--2 of FIG. 1, showingattachment of a drive cable to the slider pane;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken through line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing asecond segment of the drive cable extending in a cable channel formed inthe upper horizontal portion of the window frame, the cable channelhaving a closed cross-sectional configuration;

FIG. 4 is a schematic section view corresponding to the view of FIG. 2and illustrating an alternative embodiment for attachment of the drivecable to the slider pane;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, partially broken away, of analternative preferred embodiment for entry of the drive cable into thewindow frame of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic section view, partially broken away, of the drumhousing, drive drum, and handle of the cable drive subassembly of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the drum housing, drive drum, andhandle of the cable drive subassembly of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section view showing the relative positioning ofthe fixed-position panes of the window assembly of FIG. 1, together withthe center sliding pane in its closed position, along with selectedother componentry of the modular sliding window assembly;

FIG. 9 is a schematic interior perspective view, partially broken away,of a window assembly in accordance with an alternative preferredembodiment of the modular sliding window assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial schematic section view of an alternativeembodiment of the sealing flange and associated components of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views, partially in section and partiallybroken away, of the fixed-position panes and center sliding pane of themodular window assembly of FIG. 9, illustrating a preferred embodimentof the guide means for guiding the sliding pane as it moves between itsopen position (FIG. 11) and closed position (FIG. 12); and

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment ofthe guide means of FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 14-18 illustrate bracketry suitable for a retrofitting method andkit in accordance with a preferred embodiment for converting a manuallyoperated slider pane to a remotely operated sliding window.

The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale andshould be understood to present a simplified representation of theinvention, illustrative of the basic principles involved. Some featuresof the window construction depicted in the drawings have been enlargedor distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation andunderstanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings forsimilar or identical components and features shown in variousalternative embodiments. Window assemblies incorporating a slider paneas disclosed above, will have configurations and components determined,in part, by the intended application and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Unless otherwise stated, or otherwise clear from the context below,directional references used here are based on the orientation ofcomponents and assemblies shown in the appended drawings. Thesedirectional references assume a window assembly mounted as the rearwindow in the cab or passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, such as apickup truck or the like. Thus, an interior surface of the window facesinto the passenger compartment. An exterior surface faces rearward ofthe vehicle. The lateral directions are right and left as one faces fromthe back to the front of the vehicle. The slider pane in windowconstructions disclosed here are laterally slidable in the sense thatthey slide horizontally and substantially left and right in the plane ofthe slider pane. In window constructions having slider panes which arepositioned flush with adjacent fixed-position panes, the slider pane maybe slightly offset during initial lateral sliding movement, so as toclear the adjacent fixed-position pane as the slider pane moves to itsopen position. Reference to an inside surface of a window pane isintended to mean that surface which faces into the vehicle passengercompartment. The following detailed description of certain preferredembodiments will focus on window constructions adapted for use as a rearslider in a pickup truck cab. Those skilled in the art will recognizefrom this disclosure, however, that alternative applications arepossible, such as motor vehicle side windows calling for a slider panemounted within a frame for lateral sliding between an open and a closedposition. In a side window application, such lateral sliding typicallywould involve fore-and-aft travel of the slider pane relative to thevehicle body.

The window construction schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 is a rearslider in a pickup truck cab, having a center mounted slider pane 12positioned (in its closed position) between right side and left sidefixed-position panes 16, 14, respectively. The slider pane and fixedposition panes are mounted in a circumferential frame 18 havingsubstantially vertical right and left portions 222, 20, respectively,interconnected by substantially horizontal upper and lower frameportions 24, 26, respectively. In addition, optional left and rightmullions, i.e., vertical frame portions 28, 29 are positioned at thejunction of the slider pane (again, in its closed position) with rightside fixed position pane 16 and left side fixed position pane 14,respectively. The window construction is seated in a window opening 30defined by vehicle body 31 at the rear of the passenger compartment.Thus, the window construction is oriented in a generally vertical plane.Suitable positioning means may be employed, such as a so-called halomolding, to facilitate the proper positioning of the window constructionin the window opening 30. In this regard, the frame 18 is said to becircumferential in the sense that it forms a complete or substantiallycomplete perimeter around the glazing panes. Preferably the frameintegrates the window construction, such that the window construction isstructural or semi-structural in the sense that it is sufficientlyself-supporting as a preassembled self-contained module, to withstandstresses placed upon it during shipping, handling and installation intothe motor vehicle window opening.

In accordance with current design preferences, the circumferential framepreferably includes at least one unitary full-circumference memberextending all the way around the perimeter. Such full-circumferencemember can be formed by injection molding in-place around thefixed-position panes employing suitable plastics such as, for example,Geloy® which is commercially available from General Electric Company.Slider travel channels for guiding the sliding pane in its lateralmovement between the open and closed positions can be molded into theframe and/or formed in whole or in part by separately attached channelmembers formed of metal, plastic, etc. The frame may further compriseappliques and the like to provide decorative "show" surfaces, that is,surfaces which will be exposed to view during normal use of the windowconstruction when it is installed in the motor vehicle window opening.It will be within the ability of those skilled in the art, given thebenefit of the present disclosure, to design and construct framessuitable to specific applications.

The window assembly of FIG. 1 further comprises a pull-pull cable drivesubassembly 82 for moving the slider pane 12 between its opened andclosed positions. Drum housing 91, containing drive drum 84, is mountedto roof 88 of the vehicle between the roof 88 and the roof liner 90,preferably proximate windshield 92. Handle 81 is connected to drive drum84 for rotating drive drum 84. Handle 81 may be directly connected todrive drum 84 to ensure that drive drum 84 rotates with the rotation ofhandle 81, as discussed below in reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, or by othersuitable means apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit ofthis disclosure. Handle 81 is preferably mounted overhead and withinarms reach of the driver. The handle may be located in the center of thevehicle proximate a perimeter of the windshield 92 or more centrallylocated in the passenger compartment. Such positioning of the handle 81provides increased ease of use and convenience for the driver. Handle 81may be a crank arm, a round knob, or any other suitable device apparentto those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure. It isto be appreciated that in a vehicle with a sunroof, the cable drivesubassembly may be mounted to the roof rearward of the sunroof.

The remotely mounted handle 81 with accompanying drive drum 84 and drivecable 40 provides for a less complex, more reliable, and more costeffectively operated vertically oriented rear-mounted modular slidingwindow assembly, and one that is preferred by some vehicle owners. Theproblems of inconvenient operation of a rear-mounted window assembly areparticularly addressed through the use of the handle 81. A particularadvantage is the user convenience in operating a vertically orientedrear-mounted window together with relative ease of assembly into a motorvehicle of a handle and roof-mounted cables or other such drivetransmission means.

Drive cable 40 is connected to drive drum 84 and slider pane 12 in orderto move slider pane 12 upon rotation of handle 81. Further discussionconcerning the connection of drive cable 40 to drive drum 84 is providedbelow with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7. Drive cable 40 preferably extendsbetween the roof 88 and the roof liner 90, which conceals the cable fromview and adds to the aesthetics of the passenger compartment of thevehicle. It will be within the ability of those skilled in the art toimplement suitable guide means such as pulleys for routing drive cable40 between the roof liner 90 and the roof 88.

Drive cable 40 includes a first segment 42 extending from the left ofslider pane 12 to cable drive subassembly 82 at which point it iswrapped around drive drum 84 and secured thereto. A second segment 44extends from the right of slider pane 12 to cable drive subassembly 82at which point it too is wrapped around drive drum 84 and securedthereto. More specifically, cable segment 42 has a first end 43 attachedto an attachment block 46 at a first location on the transparent pane 12and a second end 83 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) attached to drive drum 84. Asbest seen in FIG. 1, such first location is the upper left corner of theslider pane 12. Similarly, cable segment 44 has a first end 45 attachedto the slider block 48 at a second location on slider pane 12, the upperright corner of the slider pane, and a second end 85 (see FIG. 6)attached to drive drum 84.

Typically, the slider pane 12 will be a substantially quadrilateraltransparent pane having a peripheral edge which includes an upperhorizontal edge portion 50 (see FIG. 2). In accordance with certainpreferred embodiments the upper horizontal edge 50 of the slider pane issubstantially frameless other than the attachment blocks 46, 48 or othermeans provided there for guiding the transparent pane's travel betweenits open and closed positions. The slider subassembly incorporating thetransparent slider pane may further comprise guide means along the upperhorizontal peripheral edge for guiding travel, componentry of a latch orlocking mechanism (typically, adhered to the inside surface of theslider pane) and/or other devices suitable to the intended applicationof the window construction. Weather sealing can be provided about theperimeter of the sliding pane in accordance with known techniquesincluding, for example, the use of blade seals and O-seals affixed tothe frame 18, slider pane 12 and/or adjacent fixed-position panes 14,16. Alternative sealing materials and techniques are well known and willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art for use in the presentremotely operated slider window constructions given the benefit of thepresent disclosure.

Preferably, drive cable 40 is of the cable type having an outer sheathor conduit over at least a portion of the drive cable. In accordancewith certain highly preferred embodiments, the left and right segments42, 44 of drive cable 40 are attached to the horizontal upper portion offrame 18 by securing corresponding ends of the conduit thereto. It willbe within the ability of those skilled in the art, given the benefit ofthe present disclosure, to employ suitable cable guide means, such asguides 33 shown in FIG. 1, for mounting and guiding the travel path ofthe drive cable from the remotely mounted cable drive subassembly 82 tothe window frame 18 along the roof 88, between the roof liner 90 and theroof. Guides 33 may be pulleys or any other known guide means. Also,tensioning means can be provided, for example, a standard threadedfitting positioned in-line with the conduit.

Turning now to FIG. 3, cable segment 42 can be seen carried withininternal cable channel 62 formed within upper frame portion 24. Cablechannel 62 can be formed by mating inner and outer frame components 68,69. Thus, in certain preferred embodiments, frame component 68 isprovided as an applique onto frame component 69 which is afull-circumferential frame member. The resulting cable channel 62 isseen to have a closed cross-sectional configuration. That is, it is notdownwardly open, for example, as is U-shaped slider travel channel 51 inthe embodiment of FIG. 4, but rather is O-shaped (or has a squarecross-sectional configuration, etc.) so as to protect and/or hide fromview that portion of the drive cable which is within the cable channel62.

In FIG. 2, upper frame portion 24 can be seen to form a slider travelchannel 27 which receives a guide pin 49 extending upwardly fromright-hand side attachment block 48. A corresponding guide pin extendsupwardly from the left-hand side attachment block 46, such that theslider pane 12 is guided in its travel along the slider travel channel27 between its open and closed positions. The guide pins extending fromthe slider pane into slider travel channel 27 optionally arespring-loaded or otherwise biased in the vertical direction to reduce oreliminate window rattle. This feature also advantageously facilitatesthe assembly and disassembly of the window construction by permittingthe guide pins to be retracted for installing or removing the sliderpane 12 from the slider travel channel 27 in the frame 18. In accordancewith certain preferred embodiments, the aforesaid closed cross-sectionalconfiguration cable channel 62 is a lateral extension of, and in axialalignment with, the downwardly open slider travel channel 27. Theconduit attachment brackets discussed below, or equivalent cablemounting items, are secured to the frame or to fixed-position panes atlocations laterally remote from the slider pane. That is, they aremounted not on or to the slider pane or slider subassembly, but ratherare laterally spaced from the slider pane's entire travel range withinthe frame. The slider pane (or some part of the slider assembly) at itstravel end points, that is, at the extreme ends of its travel rangewithin the frame, optionally can contact the cable attachment bracket orother such item and even use it as a travel stop to define an end pointof its travel range. In any event, however, the entry points of thedrive cable into the frame are laterally outward of the end points ofthe slider travel range.

Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 4, an alternative means isillustrated there for attachment of the drive cable to the slider pane.In FIG. 4 the end of drive cable segment 44 is directly bonded toframeless upper peripheral edge 50 of slider pane 12. As noted above,upper frame portion 24 defines a downwardly open U-shaped slider travelchannel 51 in the embodiment of FIG. 4, which slidingly receives theupper peripheral edge 50 of slider pane 12 along with the attached drivecable bonded thereto. Preferably, slider travel channel liners and/orseal members 70 are fitted into slider travel channel 51 for purposes ofimproved operation, sight shielding, etc.

Another alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein rightside cable segment 44 enters upper frame portion 24 (viewed from insidethe passenger compartment facing the rear of the vehicle) at an entrypoint 72. The frame 18 preferably forms a socket 74 to receive the end52 of the conduit 21 of cable segment 44. Conduit socket 74 communicateswith cable channel 62 through which, as described above, the cablesegment 44 extends laterally to its connection with the slider pane 12.A corresponding arrangement for the cable entry point on the oppositeside (that is, the left side) of the frame, can be provided inaccordance with the same design principles described here for the rightside entry point. It will be recognized that the conduit socket can beformed in accordance with well known and cost effective molding andmilling techniques. In accordance with the principles discussed above,the left and right cable entry points in accordance with the embodimentof FIG. 5 are laterally remote from the corresponding left and right endpoints of the slider pane 12 lateral travel range.

The operation of cable drive subassembly 82 can be more clearly seen inFIGS. 6 and 7 where cable drive subassembly 82 is shown, with the drumhousing 91, roof 88 and roof liner 90 being shown in section. Drumhousing 91 is secured to roof 88 with fasteners 103, such as brackets,and is positioned between roof 88 and roof liner 90. Other suitablefastening means for securing drum housing 91 to roof 88 will be apparentto those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure. Roofliner 90 is secured to drum housing 91 via fasteners 105, typicallyscrews, rivets, or other suitable fasteners well known to those skilledin the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. Cable segment 42 is atleast partially wrapped around drive drum 84 with second end 83 matinglyengaging socket 87, formed in a surface of drive drum 84. Acorresponding socket is formed in an opposed surface of drive drum 84 toaccommodate second end 85 of cable segment 44, which partially wrapsaround drive drum 84 as well. A portion of handle 81 extends throughaperture 93 in drum housing 91 and is secured to drive drum 84. Drivedrum 84 is secured to drum housing 91 via an axle (not shown) or othersuitable means in such a manner that it rotates freely upon rotation ofhandle 81. Other suitable means for securing drive drum 84 to drumhousing 91 will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art giventhe benefit of this disclosure.

A significant advantage is achieved with the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7through the mounting of the drum housing 91 to the roof 88 of thevehicle and routing the drive cable 40 between the roof liner 90 and theroof 88. Roof liners are typically adhered to roofs of vehicles withfast setting adhesives. Over time these adhesives may become brittle andlose some of their adhesive capabilities. Mounting the drum housing 91and the drive cable 40 to the roof 88 provides additional supportstructure for adhering the roof liner 90 to the roof 88. Since the roofliner 90 is additionally secured to the drum housing 91 via fasteners105, the roof liner will not fall from the roof if the adhesive becomesbrittle and loses its adhesive capabilities.

In use, handle 81 is rotated in direction A or B. When handle 81 isrotated in direction A, cable segment 44 is wound onto drive drum 84while cable segment 42 is correspondingly unwound. Cable segment 44thereby pulls on slider pane 12, moving it to the right. When handle 81is rotated in the opposite, or B direction, cable segment 42 is woundonto drive drum 84 and cable segment 44 is correspondingly unwound,causing slider pane 12 to be pulled to the left. The interaction of themated cable ends and sockets prevents the cable segments from slippingaround drive drum 84 as the drive drum is rotated. Conduit 21 andconduit 23, which house cable segments 44 and 42, respectively, aresecured to drum housing 91, thereby allowing cable segments 44 and 42 toextend to and wrap around drive drum 84 free of conduit.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment is shown. Theright-side fixed pane 16 has an exterior surface 26, a perimeter edge 28and an inside surface 230. Similarly, left-side fixed pane 14 has anouter surface 19, a perimeter edge 20 and an inside surface 22. Slidingpane 12 has an exterior surface 34 which, as best seen in FIG. 8, issubstantially flush with the exterior surfaces 19, 26 of the fixed panes14, 16 when the sliding pane 12 is in its closed position. It can beseen that the left-side vertical perimeter edge 36 of the sliding pane12, in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 8, lies in alignmentwith, and in close proximity to, perimeter edge 20 of fixed pane 14.Similarly, right-side perimeter edge 37 of sliding pane 12 is alignedwith and closely proximate to perimeter edge 28 of the right-side fixedpane 16.

Weather sealing can be provided at the upper and lower horizontal edgesof sliding pane 12 in accordance with known techniques including, forexample, the use of blade seals affixed to the frame 18, etc. Inaccordance with one preferred embodiment, weather sealing along theright- and left-side vertical edges of sliding pane 12 is provided byO-seals. Specifically, a left O-seal 31 is adhesively or otherwiseaffixed vertically to inside surface 22 of left-side fixed pane 14 atits periphery adjacent the sliding pane 12. A sealing flange 35 extendsvertically along the periphery of inside surface 13 of sliding pane 12,and provides a sealing surface 33 which overlies, contacts and partiallycompresses O-seal 31. Similarly, another vertically-extending sealingflange 71 is affixed to the opposite periphery of the inside surface 13of sliding pane 12, providing a sealing surface 73 which overlaps,contacts and partially compresses right-side O-seal 75, which is affixedalong the vertical periphery of inside surface 230 of right-side fixedpane 16. An O-seal typically is provided as a length of resilientmaterial having a round or oval cross section with an open center.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, a weather seal is provided as asingle, substantially continuous, full-circumference blade seal mountedaround the perimeter of the sliding pane. Most preferably, the slidingpane sub-assembly provides a single sealing flange, much like flanges 35and 71 but which extends around the entire inside perimeter of thesliding pane 12. The sealing flange preferably is formed of moldedplastic, such as PVC, RIM, etc., most preferably being molded in placedirectly onto the surface of the sliding pane in accordance with knowntechniques. As can be seen in FIG. 10, full-circumference flange 41 canbe provided in place of flange 71 to extend beyond the perimeter edge 37of the sliding pane 12 and carry full-circumference blade seal 43. Bladeseal 43 preferably is an extruded or otherwise molded member formed ofnatural or synthetic rubber, EPDM or other suitable material. It can bemounted as a single, continuous strip or in multiple pieces. Preferablyits surface 45 which forms sealing contact with adjacent fixed panes orother surfaces of the window assembly is flocked in accordance withknown techniques, to improve sliding contact as the sliding pane movesinto and out of its closed position. The blade seal 43 can be mounted tothe flange 41 in any suitable manner, including adhesively. In thepreferred embodiment shown, blade seal 43 includes flanged mounting base47 which slips into a correspondingly shaped recess in flange 41. Thisarrangement is found to provide ease of assembly and replacement.Alternative sealing materials and techniques will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The sliding pane optionally is provided as a subassembly comprising notonly the transparent glazing panel of glass, plastic or a laminatethereof, but also a frame of molded plastic or the like extendingpartially or completely around the perimeter of the glazing panel. Asubassembly of this type is illustrated in the alternative embodimentshown in FIG. 9. Thus, sliding pane 12 is shown in FIG. 9 to haveperimeter rim frame 52. The left-side perimeter edge 36 of the slidingpane 12 is provided as the exposed left-side vertical surface of rimframe 52. (This edge surface appears at the right side of sliding pane12 in FIG. 9, since FIG. 9 is a view from inside the passengercompartment.) Similarly, the vertical right edge of rim frame 52provides perimeter edge 37 of the sliding pane. Alternatively, theperimeter edge of glass may be retained in the sliding panesub-assembly, as a "raw" edge, i.e., an exposed surface, as in FIGS. 8and 10 for example. It will be well within the ability of those skilledin the art to employ features or components additional or alternative tothose described herein. Locking means, for example, may be provided,such as locking latch means mounted on the inside surface of the slidingpane or elsewhere in the window assembly, or numerous other well knownlocking means may be employed.

It is a significant advantage of the embodiment of FIG. 9 that guidemeans are provided for the sliding pane, comprising kick-out means forforcibly offsetting the sliding pane from its flush plane in its closedposition toward a parallel plane substantially simultaneously with theinitial lateral movement of the sliding pane toward its open position.Preferably, the guide means further comprises fixed members extendingfrom the sliding pane or from the frame, and corresponding guidechannels in the other of them, to receive the fixed members. The fixedmembers, most preferably, extend from the sliding pane, as in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, and, correspondingly, the guidechannels are provided in the frame. More specifically, sliding pane 12is seen in FIG. 9 to have upper pins 54 and 55 (being left-side andright-side pins, respectively, as viewed from outside the vehicle)extending upwardly from upper horizontal member 56 of rim frame 52 intoupper guide channel 58 in upper, horizontally-extending frame portion60. Similarly, lower pins 62 and 63 extend downwardly below the slidingpane 12 from a lower horizontal portion 64 of rim frame 52, into a lowerguide channel 66 provided in a horizontally-extending lower frameportion 68. The pins preferably are spring loaded or otherwise biased inthe vertical direction to reduce or eliminate window rattle. Only thetop pins or, more preferably, the bottom pins need be biased. Thispreferred feature is found to aid also in simplifying the assembly anddisassembly of the window, by permitting the pins to be retracted toenter or escape the guide channels. It can be seen that the guidechannels are formed simply as a recess in the frame members.Alternatively, auxiliary brackets or appliques may be added to the frameto form the guide channels, perhaps in cooperation with the main body ofthe frame. Also, channel liners, such as U-shaped inserts, may be usedto more easily control sliding friction, channel dimensions, etc. Also,as noted above, blade seals and other known components may be added.

The kick-out means, most preferably, is provided by the frame, althoughit alternatively can be carried by the sliding pane, particularly inthose embodiments in which the fixed pins extend from the frame. Apreferred embodiment of kick-out means provided by the frame in the formof guide ramps for engaging fixed members such as the guide pins shownin FIG. 9, is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. A left-side upper guidechannel 102 is shown to incorporate ramp surface 104 and right-sideupper guide channel 106 correspondingly incorporates ramp surface 89.Like guide channels would, of course, be provided in the lowerhorizontal portion of the frame. Guide pin receiving sockets 96 and 94are provided at the ends of ramp surfaces 104 and 89, respectively. Theguide pins 54, 55 merely seat into such sockets as the sliding panereaches its closed position, as seen in FIG. 12. The sockets aredimensioned to permit essentially no inward offsetting travel exceptsimultaneously with lateral travel as the sliding pane 12 is movedtoward its open position.

In this regard, it is optional that both vertical edges of the slidingpane 12 be offset substantially symmetrically and simultaneously duringinitial movement of the sliding pane from its closed position. Thus,opposite vertical edges 36 and 37 of the sliding pane 12 each followsthe same path of travel. Alternatively, however, it is possible toaggressively offset only the leading edge 36 of the sliding pane uponinitial lateral travel, allowing the trailing edge (i.e., opposite edge37) to follow a less aggressive path of travel. That is, the trailingedge would be more gradually offset in the sense of being offset ashorter distance per unit of lateral travel distance. FIG. 13 shows apin and guide channel arrangement which is a modification of that seenin FIGS. 11, 12. In FIG. 13 the leading edge follows a more aggressiveoffset than does the trailing edge. Left-side upper guide channel 186receiving upper pin 54 is substantially the same as channel 102 in FIGS.11, 12. Right-side upper guide channel 187, however, offsets moregradually. Advantageously in this embodiment, when the sliding pane isin its closed position, the upper and lower guide pins at the trailingedge are provided enhanced support by the guide channel wall againstinward force. Guide channel 187 is seen to extend behind channel 186,permitting full opening of the sliding pane 12. In the embodiment ofFIG. 13, the right-side channel 187 is moved inwardly and extends behind(i.e., inside of) left-side channel 186. This may require a wider framemember, at least in the area where the channels overlap. The slidingpane 12 in its open position may be slightly angled to the fixedposition pane 14 (although still substantially parallel to it) as aresult of channel 187 being extended behind channel 186. Alternatively,channel 187 can simply be offset inwardly along its entire length. Theguide pins traveling in channel 187 and the corresponding lower channelin that case preferably are offset inwardly also. While a somewhatthicker frame and a somewhat thicker sliding pane subassembly may berequired to accommodate such arrangement, full lateral travel can beachieved with the sliding pane 12 parallel to the adjacent fixed pane 14in both its open and closed positions.

In accordance another preferred embodiment, a retrofitting method andapparatus are provided comprising bracketry and pull-pull cable drivecomponentry for converting a manually operated slider window to aremotely operated slider construction having a handle in accordance withthe principles discussed above. Specifically, left side and right sideconduit attachment brackets are provided for attachment to the frameand/or to fixed-position panes or the like of the window construction atlocations laterally remote from the travel range of the slider pane.FIG. 14 illustrates a left side conduit attachment bracket suitable formounting to the upper horizontal portion of the frame. Bracket 276 isseen to have a mounting hole 278 for receiving a mounting rivet, screwor, more preferably, a mating stud projecting from the surface of theframe. Optionally multiple mating studs can be provided for positioningand affixing the bracket 276 to the frame. Such mating studs can beformed during initial molding of the frame as unitary nubs orprojections from the surface of the frame. Right side frame 280 is seenin FIG. 15 also to have a mounting hole 282 suitable for receiving amating stud projecting from the frame. In the alternative, studs or nubscan be formed on the brackets to be received into corresponding socketsor holes in the surface of the frame at the mounting location. Leftconduit attachment bracket 276 further comprises conduit flange 279adapted to receive and releasably hold conduit end 256 of left sidedrive cable segment 42. Similarly, right conduit attachment bracket 280has conduit flange 283 for receiving and releasably holding conduit end252 associated with drive cable segment 44. In addition, drive cableguide 284 of bracket 280 serves to aid in guiding the drive cable frombracket 280 to its attachment to the slider pane.

Left and right cable fasteners are attached to the slider pane atlocations laterally spaced from each other. Preferably, each end of thedrive cable attached to the slider pane is fitted with a ball or lug inaccordance with well known design techniques. Thus, as seen in FIG. 17,the end of drive cable segment 42 is fitted with lug 286. Acorresponding lug would be fitted to the end of drive cable segment 44,extending to the slider pane from the right. A left cable fastener 292is illustrated in FIG. 17, having slotted flange 288 for receiving andreleasably holding a cable end fitting, specifically, lug 286 at the endof drive cable segment 42. In accordance with one preferred embodiment,as illustrated in FIG. 16, left and right cable fasteners 292, 290,having the above described slotted flange design, are formed at oppositeends of an elongate bracket 294. Bracket 294 has an adhesive surface,specifically, offset surface 296 for adhesive attachment to a surface,preferably the inside surface of the slider pane. A removable film 298is provided to protect the adhesive of surface 296 until such time as itis to be attached to the slider pane. FIG. 18 illustrates a slider pane12 to which cable fastener bracket 294 has been attached. The end ofleft side drive cable segment 42 is attached to slotted flange cablefastener 292 in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17.Similarly, the end of right side drive cable segment 44 is attached toslotted flange cable fastener 290. It can be seen that elongate bracket294 is attached to the slider pane 12 proximate its upper edge.Preferably, bracket 294 is attached at a height which correspondsgenerally to the cable height established by the conduit attachmentbrackets positioned on the frame to the left and right of the sliderpane in accordance with the discussion above.

In addition to the retrofit bracketry and drive cable described above,retrofitting kits disclosed here, in accordance with preferredembodiments, further include a handle connected to a drive drumcontained within a housing, the drive cable being connected to the drivedrum, the housing, drive drum, and handle being preferably mounted at anoverhead location within arms reach of the driver as discussed inprevious embodiments. Preferably, such retrofitting kit furthercomprises installation instructions, templates and the like, tofacilitate the retrofitting of a manually operated slider window to beremotely operated with a handle. Optionally, manual operationcomponentry, such as handle 99 attached to inside surface 13 of sliderpane 12 in FIG. 18, can be removed in the course of the retrofitting.

In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and description ofcertain preferred embodiments, those who are skilled in this area oftechnology will readily understand that various modifications andadaptations can be made without departing from the true scope and spiritof the invention. All such modifications and adaptations are intended tobe covered by the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A modular window assembly vertically mounted in a motorvehicle body having a windshield and a roof, enclosing a passengercompartment, the modular window assembly comprising, in combination:acircumferential rear-mounted frame member mounted in a window recess inthe vehicle body rearward of a driver's seat; a slider subassemblycomprising a sliding pane mounted in the rear-mounted frame member forsliding laterally back and forth between an open position and a closedposition; and a drive subassembly for moving the sliding pane laterallyback and forth between its open and closed positions, the drivesubassembly comprising a manually operable drive unit secured overheadto the roof of the vehicle in the passenger compartment, remote from therear-mounted frame member.
 2. The modular window assembly in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the drive subassembly further comprises a drivemember attached to the slider subassembly to pull the sliding panesubstantially laterally in a first direction toward its open positionupon movement of the drive unit in a first direction, and for pullingthe slider subassembly substantially laterally in a second directiontoward its closed position upon movement of the drive unit in a seconddirection.
 3. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 2wherein the manually operable drive unit comprises a drum housingcontaining a drive drum and a handle exterior to the drum housingsecured to the drive drum through an aperture in the drum housing, thedrive member comprises a drive cable attached to the slider subassemblyand wrapped around the drive drum for pulling the slider subassembly,the slider subassembly and drive cable together forming a closed loopfrom the drive drum, with a first drive cable segment extendinglaterally from the slider subassembly toward a left side of the framemember and a second drive cable segment extending laterally from theslider subassembly toward a right side of the frame member.
 4. Themodular window assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the drivecable extends between the roof and a roof liner attached to the roof,and the overhead handle extends through an aperture in the roof liner.5. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein thedrive unit is located proximate the windshield.
 6. A modular slidingwindow assembly vertically mounted in a motor vehicle body having awindshield and a roof, enclosing a passenger compartment, the modularsliding window assembly comprising, in combination:a circumferentialrear-mounted frame member mounted in a window recess in the vehicle bodyrearward of a driver's seat; a slider subassembly comprising a slidingpane mounted in the rear-mounted frame member for sliding laterally backand forth between an open position and a closed position; and apull-pull cable drive subassembly for moving the slider subassemblylaterally back and forth between its full open and closed positions, thepull-pull cable drive subassembly comprising:a drive drum mounted to theroof of the vehicle body remote from the circumferential frame member; ahandle attached to the drive drum to rotate the drive drum in a firstrotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction; and adrive cable attached to the slider subassembly and wrapped around thedrive drum for pulling the slider subassembly substantially laterally ina first direction toward its full open position upon rotation of thedrive drum in the first rotational direction, and for pulling the slidersubassembly substantially laterally in a second direction toward itsclosed position upon rotation of the drive drum in the oppositerotational direction, the slider subassembly and drive cable togetherforming a closed loop from the drive drum, with a first drive cablesegment extending laterally from the slider subassembly toward a leftside of the frame member and a second drive cable segment extendinglaterally from the slider subassembly toward a right side of the framemember.
 7. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 6wherein at least a portion of the first drive cable segment extends in afirst cable channel in a substantially horizontal upper portion of theframe member, and at least a section of the second drive cable segmentextends in a second cable channel in the upper portion of the framemember.
 8. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 7wherein at least a portion of the first and second channels has a closedcross-sectional configuration.
 9. The modular window assembly inaccordance with claim 6 wherein a portion of the drive cable extendsfrom the slider subassembly to the drive drum between the roof and aroof liner secured to the roof of the vehicle.
 10. The modular windowassembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the drive drum is rotatablysecured to the roof between the roof liner and the roof.
 11. The modularwindow assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the handle extendsand rotates, within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, in a planesubstantially parallel to the roof.
 12. The modular window assembly inaccordance with claim 6 wherein the drive drum is mounted proximate thewindshield.
 13. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 6wherein the cable drive subassembly further comprises a drive drumhousing, the drive drum being rotatably secured within the drum housing.14. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein aportion of the handle extends through the drum housing and is attachedto the drive drum to rotate the drive drum.
 15. The modular windowassembly in accordance with claim 6 further comprising at least onefixed-position pane mounted to the frame member, an outside surface ofthe sliding pane in its closed position being in a plane, substantiallyflush with an outside surface of the fixed-position pane, and in itsopen position being in an offset plane substantially parallel to thefirst plane, substantially overlapping the fixed-position plane;guidemeans for guiding the sliding pane as it moves in a path of travelbetween its open and closed positions, the guide means comprising:guidechannels extending in the frame member and defining the path of travel,fixed members extending from the sliding pane into the guide channels,and kick-out means provided by the frame member for engaging the fixedmembers at least during initial lateral movement of the sliding pane inits path of travel from its closed position toward its open position, toforcibly guide the sliding pane from the first plane toward the secondplane substantially simultaneously with said initial lateral movement ofthe sliding pane from its closed position toward its open position. 16.The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein thefixed members comprise at least two pins extending vertically upwardfrom horizontally spaced locations along an upper edge of the slidingpane, and at least two pins extending vertically downward fromhorizontally spaced locations along a lower edge of the sliding pane.17. The modular window assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein thekick-out means comprises fixed ramp surfaces.
 18. The modular windowassembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein the ramp surfaces define,in part, the guide channels.
 19. The modular window assembly inaccordance with claim 18 wherein the frame member comprises a unitary,full-circumference molded plastic member in which the guide channels,including the ramp surfaces, are molded-in recesses.
 20. The modularwindow assembly in accordance with claim 15 having first and secondfixed-position panes substantially flush with each other, the slidingpane in its closed positions being between, and substantially flushwith, both of the fixed-position panes.
 21. The modular window assemblyin accordance with claim 15 further comprising sealing means forproviding a substantially weather-tight seal between the sliding pane inits closed position and the fixed pane.
 22. The modular window assemblyin accordance with claim 21 wherein the sealing means comprises anO-seal extending on the inside surface of the fixed-position paneproximate its peripheral edge adjacent the sliding pane, and a sealingflange extending from the inside surface of the sliding pane outwardlytoward the fixed-position pane, having a flange surface seated againstand at least partially compressing the O-seal.
 23. The modular windowassembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein the sealing means comprisesan elastomeric, full-circumference blade seal mounted to afull-circumference sealing flange extending from the inside surface ofthe sliding pane.
 24. A modular window assembly vertically mounted in amotor vehicle body having a windshield and a roof, enclosing a passengercompartment, the modular window assembly comprising, in combination:acircumferential rear-mounted frame member mounted in a first plane in awindow recess in the vehicle body rearward of a B-pillar; a slidersubassembly comprising a sliding pane mounted in the rear-mounted framemember for sliding laterally back and forth between an open position anda closed position; and a drive subassembly for moving the sliding panelaterally back and forth between its open and closed positions, thedrive subassembly comprising a manually-operable drive unit comprising ahand crank mounted in a second plane different from the first plane andpositioned in the passenger compartment forward of the B-pillar.